• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Most "temperature tolerant" basses?

Well ive decided to buy a cheap bass to leave in my car for when im waiting around or have nothing to do while away from home. The problem with my idea is that i live in sacramento california Where it gets as hot as 105 in the summer and as cold as 35 in the winter. Obviously since wood is naturally subject to warping in extreme weather, im wondering if theres any basses in the 200-400 dollar range that are more tolerant of a wide range of temperatures than most. Any suggestions help. Thanks!
 
Convienence mostly. Anyone know where i could find a replacement graphite neck that i could put on my 83 p bass body? And ya i know any bass would work but the idea is to have one that would stay in playable condition with decent action
 
Any Fender bass would go well. They don't have glue set necks that might soften and reset; the thick poly finishes hold up very well. The problem you'll have is tuning stability when you take the bass back into a climate controlled environment.
Fender style basses are a lot more durable than you think, however, keep the bass out of sight as theft is more of a reality than heat damage.
I am not recommending or endorsing that you leave your bass in a car for long periods of time, however , I have left my base in the car numerous times over the years and I have never experienced any damage
 
Convienence mostly. Anyone know where i could find a replacement graphite neck that i could put on my 83 p bass body? And ya i know any bass would work but the idea is to have one that would stay in playable condition with decent action

Your best bet would be a Moses graphite neck. I sold a Moses-necked Fender MIM for $500 so your $400 will get you close.
 
Well ive decided to buy a cheap bass to leave in my car for when im waiting around or have nothing to do while away from home. The problem with my idea is that i live in sacramento california Where it gets as hot as 105 in the summer and as cold as 35 in the winter. Obviously since wood is naturally subject to warping in extreme weather, im wondering if theres any basses in the 200-400 dollar range that are more tolerant of a wide range of temperatures than most. Any suggestions help. Thanks!

The budget-friendly graphite neck bass is the Peavey G bass.
 
Im surprised by how many of you are against leaving a bass in my car! The way i figure it, whats a better use of my time than practice? I might as well take all the time i can get to practice setlists and what not. Btw i can adjust the neck by myself so adjusting it is not a money thing, just a convenience thing. Im considering investing in a graphite neck and putting it on my 83 p bass that has a warped neck and is collecting dust.
 
I've had 3 modulus basses and while the necks sound great, and are fantastic for changes in humidity... I found them to be very sensitive to changes in temperature. For me, this meant tuning my bass constantly due to the neck "warming up" and "cooling down".

I only play wood necks these days, because I got tired of tuning so often... seriously. Of any bass I've ever owned, my current bass has the most stable neck to date. With a set of well broken in DR's... every time I pick it up, it's in tune. Adjust the truss rod almost never in my climate.

If your gonna leave a bass in your car... get yourself a cheap bass and treat it like $hit. If it becomes unplayable, sell it and buy another disposable beater. I don't think a graphite neck is good advice here... aslo, adjusting a trussrod is simple and should be part of every bassists skill set IMO... you tube it and don't over do it ;)